The next morning at breakfast, Severus found himself noticing Lupin's absence more than usual. Bunch of misfits as the Hogwarts staff was, the werewolf had fitted in remarkably well – certainly better than Lockhart, though this wasn't saying much. He was already very popular with students and staff; not even Severus's own Slytherins had voiced much complaint about him; he was clearly a competent and effective teacher. It seemed likely that, notwithstanding the supposed curse on the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, Lupin might well be here for the foreseeable future. All the more reason to develop an easier version of the Wolfsbane, so he could hand back responsibility for brewing it.

As he rose to leave the table, he saw Dumbledore beckoning to him, and went over.

'Good morning, Severus,' the Headmaster said, standing up to meet him. 'Did all go well with Remus last night?'

Not all, Severus thought darkly, recalling his annoyance last night, and the awkward end of his conversation with Lupin. But this wasn't something to share with Dumbledore. 'More or less,' he said.

'Very good.' Dumbledore smiled. 'Strange to think, isn't it, that in this very castle, at this very moment, there is a large, dangerous wolf lying by the fire in his bedroom and sleeping peacefully.'

Severus said nothing, but the image Dumbledore painted was an intriguing one. He found himself wondering how possible it would be to poke his head into Lupin's rooms, to catch a glimpse of the beast that had nearly attacked him, now tamed and sleeping. But somehow he doubted this idea was either practical or ethical.

Dumbledore was smiling, apparently watching him think. Then he said, 'How is your Wolfsbane work going, are you making progress?'

'Some,' Severus said. 'I hope the real progress will begin from this week. 'He explained his plans for the coconut ingredients. 'I may revert to a more familiar oil in the end, but I think it's worth a try. In the meantime I've made a couple of minor changes to the existing formula, to make it more palatable. It was causing Lupin to vomit, which obviously risked the potion not being fully absorbed. But I think that problem is solved now.'

'I'm sure Remus very much appreciates that,' Dumbledore said. 'I've been thinking I'd like to have a meeting with the two of you, just to get a full update on how things are going. Would that be amenable to you?'

Christ almighty, would these demands never cease. But it wasn't as if he had any choice. 'As long as you make it just after this full moon. Otherwise we'll have to have the meeting at my workbench while I work on next month's Wolfsbane.'

The Headmaster smiled. 'Of course. The sooner the better. I'll speak to Lupin once he's' – His gaze moved suddenly to look over Severus's shoulder. 'Minerva – are you all right?'

Severus turned to find McGonagall behind him, looking somewhat exasperated. 'Is either of you free this morning?' she said. 'We need a cover teacher for Remus, his third and sixth year classes. Rolanda was meant to be doing it – but she's in the hospital wing – she went for a ride earlier this morning and fell off her broom, she's broken her collarbone and shoulder.'

'Oh dear,' Dumbledore said. 'I take it Poppy can mend it?'

'Yes, yes, she'll probably be fine by the afternoon – but Remus's lessons, tell me one of you can do it, but everyone else is teaching and I don't want to start asking prefects …'

No, Severus thought. Absolutely no fucking way.

'I can certainly cover the second half of the morning,' Dumbledore said, 'but I'm afraid I'm expecting Newt Scamander in the next hour or so, we have an appointment of somewhat long standing. Severus – I know you're already doing so much – I wouldn't normally ask, but do you think, just this once …?'

He closed his eyes. 'Fine.' He could not be bothered to argue, and had no alternative to suggest. At least it would stop him going back to his office and falling asleep over his desk – which was probably the only thing he'd have achieved that morning anyway.

Dumbledore gripped his shoulder. 'Thank you very much, Severus. Newt is keen to meet Hagrid's hippogriff, and we have a great deal to discuss besides. I'll let you know about the meeting with Remus …'

He went away cheerfully. Minerva, too, said a hasty thank you and hurried away to whatever her next crisis might be. Severus was left standing alone at the staff table. 'Fuck fuck fuck,' he muttered, took a deep breath – then, hoping none of the students were watching him, picked up Dumbledore's unfinished cup of coffee and drained it in one gulp. He was owed this much, at least.

Twenty minutes later, he was sitting in Lupin's chair in Lupin's classroom, and he was reprimanding Harry Potter for being late.

(Different classroom, same old shit, one part of his mind noted dryly.)

Then Potter said, 'Where's Professor Lupin?'

'He says he is feeling too ill to teach today,' Severus said. 'I believe I told you to sit down?'

But Potter didn't move. 'What's wrong with him?'

Of course, Severus thought, Potter had cosied up very successfully to his father's old friend. 'Nothing life-threatening,' he said coldly. 'Five more points from Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you to sit down again, it will be fifty.'

Thankfully the Boy Who Lived, perhaps more aptly named the Boy Who Failed To Die Gracefully At His Appointed Hour, conceded defeat at this point, and sat down.

Severus continued. 'As I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far –'

'Please, sir,' Hermione Granger said out of nowhere, 'we've done Boggarts, Red Caps, Kappas and Grindylows, and we're just about to start –'

'Be quiet. I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organisation.'

This, at least, was a reasonable complaint. Not that the students understood: they didn't know Lupin was able to plan his sick days with such precision, years in advance, even. He began to turn pages of the third-year textbook, searching for a suitable topic. Really – some notes, a lesson plan, even the faintest hint of what to teach, should have been left on the desk for him.

Then Dean Thomas said from the back of the room, his face glowing with defiance, 'He's the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had.'

A murmur of agreement from the class. Severus could feel the pressure in his chest increasing. He had not expected so much resistance from them, and his normally iron control over his own moods was struggling. 'You are easily satisfied,' he managed to sneer. 'Lupin is hardly over-taxing you – I would expect first-years to be able to deal with Red Caps and Grindylows.' Also reasonable. 'Today we shall discuss …'

Then he turned one more page of the textbook, and went cold.

He was sitting in Lupin's classroom, staring down at a detailed, colourful picture. A picture of the full moon and the silhouette of a long-snouted wolf, howling.

Something in him, stretched and weakened from lack of sleep, broke. A wave of hatred surged in his chest. Fuck Lupin.

He looked up at the students, and spoke very softly. 'Werewolves.'

A/N: Slow progress at the moment, I'm afraid! Continued thanks to everyone reading and following this story. Hope to have another chapter up soon … –SS–